10 Common Abusive Vocal Habits & What You Can Do to Stop

Non-Vocal Abusive Effects

First, let's talk about non-vocal behaviors we engage in that can be harmful to your voice.

1. Consumption of caffeine, especially tea and coffee

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it will increase urine production and send you to the restroom more frequently.  This in turn depletes your body faster of essential hydration.  The vocal tract and vocal folds need moisture to work effectively.  A good rule of thumb is to drink 8 oz. of water for every 8 oz. of coffee or tea you consume.

2. Consuming Alcohol

Alcohol decreases the body's production of anti-diuretic hormone, which the body uses to reabsorb water.  Hence, we lose more fluid through increased urination.  Excessive drinking can also lead to vomiting which can further deplete the body of fluids.  To combat this risk, start the night off with a glass of water, and alternate alcohol drinks with a glass of water as you go.

3. Smoking

Heat and inhaled chemicals cause inflammation of the vocal tract and vocal folds.  Over time, this can lead to irreversible damage to the sensitive tissues of the vocal folds and even cancer.  The only way to counter the effects of smoking is to stop.

4. Harmful Medications

Decongestants, allergy medications, and other drugs tend to release fluid from the body.  If any medication you take has this effect, you should counter with increased water consumption.  Ask your doctor if there are any alternative medications that don't have such a drying effect.

5. Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)

LPR is acid reflux that makes its way into your airway and can damage the vocal folds.  Symptoms include sensations of heartburn, a bad taste in the mouth (especially in the morning), a rough voice in the morning, a burning sensation in the throat, or frequent sensation of excess mucus in the throat.  It is possible for LPR to damage your vocal folds even if you aren't having the classic "heartburn" symptoms.  Ask your doctor for more information and treatment options.

Vocally Abusive Behaviors

Now we'll talk about behaviors we engage in that can harm our vocal folds.  These are habits and practices for which we use our voice that can cause trauma to the vocal mechanism.

6. Habitual Cough / Frequent Throat Clearing

Coughing or clearing the throat is essentially "slamming" the vocal folds together.  This can cause inflammation and localized irritation.  Often this becomes habitual rather than functional to actually clear the airway.  The first step is to become aware of how often you are clearing your throat.  When you feel an urge to do so, take a sip of water instead.  If excessive mucus is the cause, increasing water intake can help thin mucus and make it easier to clear.

7. Chronic "Loudness"

Don't speak louder than the situation demands.  Avoid yelling, loud cheering, or speaking over loud noises.  Use non-vocal strategies to get attention (hand-clapping, whistling, snapping fingers, ring a bell).  Use amplification if necessary (you can purchase amplification devices online).

8. Poor Balance of Extra Vocal Demands With Rest

If you know you'll need to be speaking for an extended length of time, try to reduce voice use before and after these episodes.  Listen more and talk less.  

9. Grunting (As in Weight Lifting)

If you lift on a regular basis, you may be abusing your vocal folds.  We slam our folds together for the resistance needed to increase pulmonary pressure for heavy lifting, and then grunt.  Repeated over time, this can damage the folds and cause a callous to build up, which can change the shape of and sound produced by the vocal folds.

10. Fighting Against Laryngitis

When you have hoarseness or loss of voice from an upper respiratory infection, the vocal folds become swollen and don't work properly.  Don't try to force them to close or work--this can harm them.  Speak with whispers and give them time to heal.